Medical Specialists perform professional activities, requiring specialized education and training, to provide medical care and treatment, within a recognized medical specialty, for residents of and individuals served by State institutions and facilities.
The levels in this series are distinguished primarily by their completion of training, experience, and licensure requirements. All appointees must be eligible for and maintain full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs and must maintain eligibility after appointment.
RESIDENT PHYSICIAN: non-competitive jurisdictional class; requires a limited permit to practice medicine in New York State, completion of one year of post graduate training, and admission to a residency training program approved by the American certifying board of the medical specialty; participates in training programs and assists in providing medical care within an assigned medical specialty.
MEDICAL SPECIALIST 1: requires a license to practice medicine in New York State and completion of a training program approved by the American certifying board of the medical specialty for entrance into their certifying examination or equivalent qualifications; serves as a junior practicing specialist within a recognized medical specialty.
MEDICAL SPECIALIST 2: requires a license to practice medicine in New York State and certification by the appropriate American certifying board of the medical specialty; serves as a senior practicing specialist within a recognized medical specialty; may supervise medical services within a specialty for an assigned facility, program, or unit.
Medical Specialists 3 serve as chiefs of service, within a recognized
specialty, of major medical treatment units or perform other clinical
management activities. They are responsible for developing, implementing,
and administering the total treatment program for the service
or program to which they are assigned.
Clinical Physicians provide general medical care and treatment for residents of and individuals served by State institutions and facilities.
Research Physicians specialize in designing and conducting studies and experiments about the diagnoses, causes, spread, and treatment of diseases and preparing and presenting research reports about their activities.
Cancer Research Clinicians specialize in clinical care and research programs in connection with the cause, cure, treatment, and prevention of cancer.
NOTE: Resident Physicians in Psychiatry perform duties within that specialty. Refer to Classification Standard 5260201.
Reviews medical history of patients referred for treatment.
Conducts medical examinations of patients.
May be members of Interdisciplinary Treatment Teams.
In addition, a Medical Specialist 1 or 2 may perform the following duties:
In addition, a Medical Specialist 2 may perform the following duties:
Administers and manages the medical treatment programs within a medical specialty for an assigned facility, unit, or program.
Approves the discharge of patients.
Develops and administers procedures and policies for the medical specialty treatment program, facilities, and staff and assures that staff comply with them.
Develops and supervises medical training and residency programs for physicians and medical students assigned to the medical specialty.
Medical Specialists work with considerable independence in
conducting medical examinations, recommending treatments, and
coordinating patient care. In addition, positions at the 2 level
receive only limited administrative review when assigned responsibility
for managing medical services within a specialty at a facility
or for a program or unit.
Resident Physicians generally work under the supervision of Medical
Specialists 2 who consult with and advise them about diagnoses
and treatment plans and review and approve their treatment recommendations
and patient care plans.
Medical Specialists and Resident Physicians regularly apply a complex body of medical knowledge in the performance of their duties. This knowledge is continuously expanding and changing in response to research, development of new treatment techniques, medicines, and technology, and greater understanding of diseases, treatments, and health care management. They must maintain high levels of current knowledge about new developments in medicine and within their medical specialty. Further, they must apply this knowledge while dealing with people who may have limited or no understanding of health care or who are not responsive to treatment for reasons other than their physical condition and the appropriateness of the treatment.
Medical Specialists are regarded as experts in their medical specialty by attending physicians, patients and their caregivers, and other direct care staff. They are relied on to provide expert medical advice, within their specialty, about patient conditions, treatment, diseases, injuries, and health care, while taking into consideration a wide variety of factors that impact on the general well-being of patients.
There is a high level of responsibility for work performance, with Medical Specialists and Resident Physicians responsible for the treatment and care of patients. The consequences of error are great: mistakes may result in injury or death of patients, injury to the reputation of the facility, and dissatisfaction of patients and their families.
Medical Specialists and Resident Physicians have frequent oral communications with patients, caregivers, and medical, nursing, and support staff to elicit and clarify information, answer questions, explain health conditions and treatment methods, coordinate treatment, give orders for patient care, and provide medical advice. Oral communications require that Medical Specialists and Resident Physicians explain complex medical information so that it can be easily understood and comprehended by patients and caregivers, who may have limited or no understanding of medical science.
They have frequent written communications to record information about patients and their treatment, order treatments and prescriptions, and maintain patient records. In addition, written communications include reports about the specialty's health care program, explanations of new developments in health care and treatment, especially regarding the medical specialty, and dissemination of procedural, policy, and other information affecting unit and facility operations.
Medical Specialists and Resident Physicians are legally responsible for the accuracy of the medical information they convey and enter in records.
Medical Specialists and Resident Physicians supervise patient care staff by prescribing treatments, giving orders to implement treatment programs for patients, supervising the administration of treatment, and answering questions and advising staff about patient care and treatment.
Medical Specialists 2 may supervise all medical, nursing, patient care, and support staff for an assigned specialty, unit, or program by performing the full range of supervisory responsibilities.
RESIDENT PHYSICIAN
Non-Competitive: degree as a Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy, or Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery, a license or limited permit to practice medicine in New York State, completion of one year of post graduate training, and admission to a residency training program approved by the American certifying board in a specialty recognized by the Board.
MEDICAL SPECIALIST 1
Open Competitive: degree as a Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy, or Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery, a license to practice medicine in New York State, and completion of a training program approved by the American certifying board for entrance into their certifying examination or equivalent qualifications, and eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
MEDICAL SPECIALIST 2
Open Competitive: degree as a Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy, or Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery, a license to practice medicine in New York State, and certification by the appropriate American certifying board of the specialty and eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.